Choker-type collar

ABSTRACT

A choker-type collar having a ring at each end of the collar with a sleeve guard member inserted along the collar between the two rings. The sleeve has an opening at each end of the sleeve to permit it to slide along the collar. One opening of the sleeve is smaller than the circumference of one of the rings to prevent the sleeve from slipping away from the collar. The other end of the sleeve is larger than the circumference of the ring to permit the sleeve to slide over the ring and cover it.

United States Patent Kemmerling [451 Oct.3l, 1972 [54] CHOKER-TYPECOLLAR [72] Inventor: Arthur E. Kemmerling, 955 Ringgold Street,Pittsburgh, Pa. 15220 [22] Filed: May 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 144,449

[52] U.S. Cl ..119/106, 24/1, 24/115 H [51] Int. Cl. ..A0lk 27/00 [58]Field of Search ....1 19/106, 118, 114; 54/24, 34;

24/115 G, 115 H, 123 H, 205.15 H; 294/74 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,928,157 3/1960 Deering ..24/205.l5 l-l 3,011,47812/1961 Kirby ..119/106 3,074,378 1/1963 Clayton ..119/106 X PrimaryExaminer-Samuel Koren Assistant Examiner-James 1-1. CzerwonkyAttorney-Buell, Blenko & Ziesenheim 5 7] ABSTRACT A choker-type collarhaving a ring at each end of the collar with a sleeve guard memberinserted along the collar between the two rings. The sleeve has anopening at each end of the sleeve to permit it to slide along thecollar. One opening of the sleeve is smaller than the circumference ofone of the rings to prevent the sleeve from slipping away from thecollar. The other end of the sleeve is larger than the circumference ofthe ring to permit the sleeve to slide over the ring and cover it.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures CHOKER-TYPE COLLAR This invention relates toa choker-type collar for.

, free from lead.

Most dogs including the hunting dog wear a chokertype collar which is achain having two large end rings at each end through which a loop isformed and placed over and around the dogs neck. A leash is then linkedto one of the large rings. As the dog moves and applies tension to theleash, the choker is pulled tighter around the dogs neck causing the dogto release the pulling force on the leash. This choker-type collar isused for training and for walking the animal. One of the problems withthe choker-type collar is that when the leash is removed from one of thelarge end rings and the dog is allowed to run, the large ring can becomeentangled with a fixed object. If the dog is running at a fast pace andthe open end ring catches on to a fixed object such as a nail in afence, the dog will strangle itself by a sudden snap caused by thechoker closing the loop around the dog's neck.

It is estimated that approximately 18,000 hunting dogs are strangledannually in trying to go through barbed wire fences. It is believed thatthere are also many pet dogs killed in the same manner.

The prior art has failed to solve this problem. The closestrepresentative art is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,131,674 issued May 5,1964 for a Safety Dog Collar. This patent shows a collar which releasesupon the application of some excessive force thereby avoidingstrangulation of the dog. The shortcoming, however, is that the collaris not the desired choker-type used in training and it is very complexin structure.

The present invention overcomes the safety hazzard in using achoker-type collar by providing a guard mechanism which can be slidalong the collar chain and inserted over the end ring when the leash isremoved from the end ring thereby covering the end ring and preventingit from becoming engaged with a fixed object as the dog runs. The deviceis simple in structure and economical to make.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a present preferred embodimentof the invention and have illustrated the method of practicing theinvention wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the choker-type chain engaging a dogsneck with a leash attached to the choker;

FIG. 2. is an isometric view of the choker with the sleeve covering thefree end ring of the choker-type collar with the leash removed from thefree end ring; and

FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing a loop formed by the choker-typechain through which the dog would place its head and the sleeve slidback from the free end ring of the choker-type collar.

Referring to the figures, a choker-type collar 2 comprises a chain 4with end rings 6 and 8 at each end of the chain. The chain 4 is pulledthrough ring 6 forming a large loop 10 through which the dog 14 canplace its head. A leash 12 is attached to the ring 8 and as the dog 14attempts to move from the leash 12, force is applied causing the loop 10to constrict and thereby apply pres sure around the dogs neck 16. Whenthe leash 12 is removed to allow t e dog 14 to run, ring 8 normallyhangs free and can be subjected to engaging a fixed obstruction, such asa nail in a fence. If the dog 14 is running, the moment end ring 8engages a fixed object, the dog 14 will snap its neck. To prevent endring 8 from engaging any object, a sleeve 18 is slid along chain 4 andover the ring 8 covering it as shown in FIG. 2. The sleeve 18 has twoopenings 20 and 22. Opening 20 is restricted to a size smaller than thecircumference of ring 8 to prevent the sleeve 18 from slipping away fromthe chain 4 and opening 22 has its size large enough to permit sleeve 18to pass over the circumference of the ring 8 and cover it.

I claim:

1. A choker-type animal collar having an end ring at each end of thecollar, the improvement comprising a sleeve guard member slidablypositioned on the collar between the two rings, the sleeve having anopening at each end through which the collar can freely pass, one end ofthe sleeve having its opening restricted to a size smaller than thecircumference of one of the rings to prevent the sleeve from slippingover it, the other end of the sleeve having its opening large enough topass over and enclose the circumference of the same ring, saidrestricted sleeve opening being sized to provide a means for preventingthe sleeve from slipping off the collar whereby the sleeve can beslipped along the collar to cover said one end ring.

1. A choker-type animal collar having an end ring at each end of thecollar, the improvement comprising a sleeve guard member slidablypositioned on the collar between the two rings, the sleeve having anopening at each end through which the collar can freely pass, one end ofthe sleeve having its opening restricted to a size smaller than thecircumference of one of the rings to prevent the sleeve from slippingover it, the other end of the sleeve having its opening large enough topass over and enclose the circumference of the same ring, saidrestricted sleeve opening being sized to provide a means for preventingthe sleeve from slipping off the collar whereby the sleeve can beslipped along the collar to cover said one end ring.